Meet Autumn Timmins

We ask all our partners the same questions. We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know our guest!

1. Please share your relationship to autism: My relationship to autism is both deeply personal and professional. I am the parent of an autistic son, Preston, who was diagnosed with autism at five years old. His diagnosis changed the way our family viewed the world and inspired me to become an advocate for individuals with autism and their families.
   
   I am also the wife of a veteran law enforcement officer with more than 25 years of experience. Through both my personal experience as a parent and first responder family, I recognized a significant gap in autism awareness and training for first responders. Too often, officers and other first responders encounter individuals with autism without having the knowledge or tools necessary to recognize behaviors associated with autism and respond appropriately.
   
   These experiences led me to co-found Preston’s Pursuit for Acceptance, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing autism awareness and providing practical training to law enforcement and other first responders. Our goal is to help create safer, more understanding interactions between first responders and the autism community while promoting acceptance, dignity, and inclusion.
   
   I consider myself a parent advocate, autism awareness educator, and first-responder family who is committed to using personal experience to make a meaningful difference.

2. What services does your organization provide? We provide a AZPOST and nationally certified by IADLEST, in-person autism/disability awareness training for first responders. We believe it's important to train the entire agency so they all have the same knowledge and awareness.

3. What would you like to tell our audience about your organization? We created our organization with a personal passion and drive to help create a safer and more inclusive community for all.

4. What motivates you to support the autism community? My son, Preston, is my biggest motivation.
   

5. What advice would you give to someone new to their autism journey?‍ You are not alone.
   
   *This organization accepts donations AND has volunteer opportunities available!